Michael Clarke quashes Brad Haddin’s retirement rumours

Rumours of Brad Haddin‘s retirement were spreading like wildfire on Day 1 of the fifth and final Test while the Australian wicketkeeper bludgeoned the England bowlers to all parts of Sydney Cricket Ground.

Australian captain Michael Clarke, who was listening to the commentary from the dressing room and quashed all the rumour, vehemently waving ‘No’ to Shane Warne, Mark Nicholas and co. in the Commentary box.

Australia recovered on the back of a Steve Smith home-town century and more Brad Haddin batting heroics to put reeling England on the rack again in the final Sydney Ashes Test Friday.

The Australians, sent into bat after Alastair Cook’s first toss win of the series, stormed back from a parlous 97 for five to leave the beleaguered tourists in familiar trouble by opening day stumps, read an AFP report.

Australia were all out for 326 late in the day with England losing the wicket of Michael Carberry for a duck to reach stumps at eight for one with Cook on seven and nightwatchman Jimmy Anderson one.

Smith and Haddin rescued the home team with a 128-run sixth-wicket stand before Haddin went for his sixth score over 50 in the series and Smith was last man out for 115.

First Published on January 3, 2014, 5:45 pmLast updated on January 3, 2014, 5:45 pm